Launch Reports

At the abbreviated March 10th Mill Springs launch event we had thirty-nine participants (including Scouts) who were able to quickly squeeze in eighty-five launches. Action was fast-paced and despite the shortened day we packed in more than enough excitement in the two-plus hours that would typically be found at any launch event.

Glenn Harper placed his LOC Graduator “Bad Penny” out on the pad loaded-up with a F67-9 and sent it roaring skyward. It came back, so he reloaded it with a G77 Red and launched it again, and well… Justin Moore had two successful launches of his Estes Trajector on a E20-4 and a third launch with a F15-8. D. Tripp sent his Estes Big Daddy up on a E15-4.

Some other remarkable flights included Ian Schlecht’s successful flight of his Estes two-stage Hyper Bat on a C6-0 / C6-5 that was recovered way downfield at the very edge. Jose Morales launched a spectacular flight of his SpaceX Falcon 9 with a D12-3, March Briner came out with a sleek Semroc Aerobee-Hi that was flown twice with a B6-4, and Jacob Schwartz had a thrilling flight of his FlisKits Tri-Glide that had all three gliders chasing each other in a beautiful spiraling glide pattern.

Then the forecasted rain finally arrived… Click here for a few pictures from the event.

Motor ignition counts:

• 1/4A – 2
• 1/2A – 2
• A – 11
• B – 39
• C – 22
• D – 5
• E – 4
• F – 2
• G – 1

On a record-breaking warm February afternoon at the Mill Springs launch event there were twenty-four participants who launched a total of seventy-eight rockets. Steady breezes from the south kept directing recoveries mostly down the length of the field, but as usual there were a few rockets that did not go home at the end of the day. Regardless of this challenge there were many great flights with successful recoveries that included two-stage and some mid-power launches.

Steve Bellio successfully launched and recovered his LOC EZI-65 on a G75-4M and sent up his Estes Partizon on an E40-4T and an Estes Mammoth on an E20-4W. Nicolas got to send up his two-stage Estes Loadstar twice with B6-0/B6-4 combinations and Andrew Chong launched an Estes Mongoose with a B6-0/A8-5. Some other impressive first flights included Izzy’s Estes Mosquito on a 1/4A3-3T (yes, it was recovered), Kate’s Estes Sky Writer on a A8-3, Roman’s Mercury Redstone on a C6-5 and Jacob’s Estes QCC Explorer powered by a D12-5.

We had many family members cheering those who were launching and other folks coming by just to check out the action while enjoying a warm Spring-like day.  Event photos by Kevin Boyd

Motor Ignition Counts:

• 1/4A – 2
• 1/2A – 2
• A – 18
• B – 29
• C – 14
• D – 8
• E – 6
• F – 1
• G – 1

Before the Noon launch event began, Jorge setup and supported a special morning event for Cub Scout Pack 135, Roswell Georgia. The Pack launched seventy-four rockets into a chilly morning sky. By Noon as the Cub Scouts were wrapping up, our regular club members began arriving at the field and preparing their rockets. The day warmed up and the winds became varied from light to moderate and kept mostly directed down the length of the field. During the afternoon fourteen participants launched fifty-three rockets, spools, and spinners.

Lee Childers flew a unique Apogee Gyro Chaser that performed very well on multiple A10-3T flights and had a sleek scratch-built Mach1 that saw two launches on a C11-3 and one on a D12-5 all launched from a special built rail guide. Roy Green loaded-up the pads with very unique looking designs including Odd’l Rockets Pigasus, New Way’s Geometric, and FlisKits Praetor all powered by B4-2s. Dave dusted-off his Estes Vega from the 1970s and sent it up on a beautiful flight with a B6-4. Hunter successfully flew and retrieved a two stage Estes Solar Flare on a B6-0 booster and a A3-4T sustainer.  Event Photos

Engine ignition counts (does not include Cub Scout launches):

1/2A – 3
A – 18
B – 20
C – 6
D – 4
E – 6

On a very comfortable Fall day there were thirty-four participants who came out to launch 109 rockets at the SoAR October 14th Mill Springs Launch Event. There was a steady pace of rockets being placed on the pads throughout the event and a very interesting variety of scale and sport models both large and teeny tiny as well as new and old.

Those who came out to watch the action got thrilled by Steve Bellio’s Estes Partizon roaring off the pad on a F44-4W and John Phelps Estes Mammoth powered by a E20-4. Kevin Scholberg’s Art Applewhite 10” Saucer on a F15-0 was another crowd pleaser as was the return of his 7.5 foot tall Estes Dude that went somewhat skyward somewhat sideward on a D12-3.

On a smaller note we had Justin Moore’s Estes Mosquito doing a disappearing act on a 1/2A3-4T, and even smaller were the tiny Micromax rockets that Kevin showcased. Ron Stancil brought out and flew a very nice selection of small scale models like the Edmonds Gemini, Mercury Redstone, and one beautiful flight of his scratch-built Little Joe on a B6-4. Ron also successfully flew and recovered an Estes Mini Comanche 3 on an A10-0T/A10-0T/A3-4T three stage boost. Another standout was John Lawrence’s Thrustline Arapahoe E that he flew on a C11-5.

The event also included a contest held by Coyote Rocketry (participants predicting altitudes for two launches of an Estes Photon Disruptor flown on a D21-4T).

Check out some of the action in these event photos.

Motor Ignition Count:

• Micromax – 1
• 1/4A – 2
• 1/2A – 2
• A – 22
• B – 30
• C – 33
• D – 11
• E – 11
• F – 3

The September 9th Mill Springs Launch had twenty-seven participants launch eighty-one rockets. Comfortable temperatures and sunny blue skies prevailed throughout the event; although there were gusty winds, these were directed down the length of the field which kept almost all recoveries just an easy walk.

Most participants took few risks with reasonable motor selections, but not all. Lee Childers took an Estes Alpha III to maximum altitude with a D10-5 and then brisk upper-level winds proceeded to take the little Alpha far afield. Glenn Harper also considered his LOC Graduator expendable and selected a G74-6 for its thrilling ride and a long drift down to the lower edge of the field just out of reach. With better success Kevin Scholberg fired off his LOC Arcas powered by a F44-4w and Steve Bellio had his Raven launched with a F50-4T. We also enjoyed seeing James fire off his three-stage Estes Mini Commanche with a successful recovery. These were great spectator launches.

Also of interest were some older rockets making their way back out to the field. Kevin Scholberg launched a Centuri Mercury Redstone on a C6-3 and his Estes Sizzler Classic (rear chute ejection worked wonderfully) on a C6-3. Roy Green loaded a scratch built Mercury Little Joe on the pad and launched it with a C6-3 as well. It was a very successful day with lots of other cool stuff to watch as always.  Event Photos by Kevin Boyd

Motor Ignition Counts:

• 1/2A – 2
• A – 13
• B – 24
• C – 22
• D – 12
• E – 7
• F – 2
• G – 1

The August 12th launch event at Mill Springs had twenty-eight participants launch eighty-three rockets. Following a few days of scattered showers, the day turned out to be mostly calm with favorable winds and partly cloudy skies, although heat and humidity was a factor later in the afternoon.

Special spare part creations that were started at the Thursday SoAR meeting arrived at the field for flight testing. Competing for honors were Glenn’s Loopy Larry’s Aerobatic + Snake Oil, Jorge’s I Don’t Know, Bill’s Katie, and Jeff’s Lil’ Hoss. Glenn’s entry lived up to its name and failed flight qualification loopily as did Jeff’s Lil’ Hoss that remained perched and unrecoverable. Both Katie and I Don’t Know had successful qualifying flights and in the end the marvelously creative and striking rocket named Katie won the event.

Also of interest was Mike Nehez’s sleek looking scratch built IQSY Tomahawk flown on a B6-4 then a C6-5 and Russell Puryear’s LOC Onyx that streaked skyward on an E30-6. Tom Kinard flew his Estes Ventris on a E16-4 and an Estes Leviathan on a F27-4R. Linda took her Estes Big Daddy up on a C11-3, then higher on a D12-5, then higher on a F40 and I believe that was the end of that. Michael Shimer brought a couple of Space X Falcon 9s and had four successful flights on D12-5s. All-in-all much fun, action, and many successful flights.  See these  Event Photos

Motor Ignition counts:

• 1/2A – 4
• A – 14
• B – 28
• C – 14
• D – 17
• E – 6
• F – 2